diff --git a/fs/fs_manage_variables.lua b/fs/fs_manage_variables.lua
index 794ba90..dd2a591 100644
--- a/fs/fs_manage_variables.lua
+++ b/fs/fs_manage_variables.lua
@@ -53,6 +53,33 @@ yl_speak_up.fun_input_fs_manage_variables_check_fields = function(player, formna
 					false)
 		})
 		return
+	-- set default value
+	elseif(fields and fields.set_default_value and fields.default_value) then
+		-- store the new default value
+		if(fields.default_value == "") then
+			fields.default_value = nil
+		end
+		local k_long = var_name_with_prefix
+		local old_val = yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata(k_long, "default_value", true)
+		yl_speak_up.set_variable_metadata(k_long, nil, "default_value", nil, fields.default_value)
+		local new_val = yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata(k_long, "default_value", true)
+		yl_speak_up.show_fs(player, "msg", {
+			input_to = "yl_speak_up:manage_variables",
+                        formspec = "size[10,3.5]"..
+                                "label[0.2,0.0;The "..minetest.colorize("#FFFF00", "default value")..
+					" for variable\n\t"..
+                                        minetest.colorize("#FFFF00",
+						minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(var_name)))..
+                                        "\nhas been changed from\n\t"..
+					minetest.colorize("#FFFF00",
+						minetest.formspec_escape(old_val or ""))..
+                                        "\nto the NEW value\n\t"..
+					minetest.colorize("#FFFF00",
+						minetest.formspec_escape(new_val or "")).."]"..
+                                "button[1.5,3.0;2,0.9;back_from_msg;Back]"
+			})
+		return
+
 	-- enable, disable and list variables in debug mode
 	elseif(fields and fields.enable_debug_mode and var_name) then
 		yl_speak_up.set_variable_metadata(var_name, pname, "debug", pname, true)
@@ -448,9 +475,23 @@ yl_speak_up.get_fs_manage_variables = function(player, param)
 					"values into this variable."))
 		local var_type = (yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata(k_long, "var_type")
 					 or "String/text or numerical value, depending on how you use it")
-		table.insert(formspec, "label[0.2,5.05;Type of variable: ")
+		-- get the default value as-is (will usually be nil)
+		local var_default_val = (yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata(k_long, "default_value", true)
+					 or "")
+		table.insert(formspec, "label[0.2,4.95;Type of variable: ")
 		table.insert(formspec, minetest.colorize("#FFFF00", var_type)) -- show variable type
 		table.insert(formspec, ".]")
+		table.insert(formspec,
+			"label[0.2,5.55;Default value (when not set):]"..
+			"field[4.9,5.25;4.0,0.6;default_value;;"..
+				minetest.formspec_escape(var_default_val).."]"..
+			"button[9.0,5.25;4.5,0.6;set_default_value;Set default value]"..
+			"tooltip[default_value;By default, variables start unset with value \'nil\'. "..
+				"\nIf you set this to a diffrent value, the variable will have this "..
+				"\nvalue instead whenever it is unset."..
+				"\nNote: Internally it is still stored as \'nil\'.]"..
+			"tooltip[set_default_value;Store a new default value. Use empty input to set "..
+				"back to the default \'nil\'.]")
 		if(var_type == "quest") then
 			table.insert(formspec, "button[4.2,4.75;4.5,0.6;show_quest;Show and edit this quest]")
 		end